More Fire in Music

The Hon. Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Keletso Rakhudu officially opened the 2009 Botswana Music Camp (BMC) on Wednesday.




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The BMC is now 25 years old. It began in 1985 as the Botswana International School of Music. Then in 1989 became the one-week music camp held at the end of the year following the start of the school holidays.

This is the first music camp to be full through advance registration long before it started. The 85 "students" are enjoying an intense week of activities from dawn to late at night out at the Botswana College of Agriculture at Sebele.

The key sponsor this year and the previous four years is Standard Chartered Bank.Following a welcome to those gathered at the opening ceremony by Ms Gaolape Bashui, Chairperson, BMC, Mr David Cutting, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank spoke in appreciation of the music camp and what it accomplishes and promised to continue to be involved.

He commented that, "Musicians are like uncut diamonds". He urged people to attend the free MBC concert at Maitisong Saturday evening the December 12 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. The Assistant Minister, commenting that "I and Mr Cutting look like aliens" because they were the only people in the hall wearing jackets and ties, confessed that both of them are much closer to the music camp than might be assumed. Both of them share a love of music and play instruments.

Hon Rakhudu is an old-time guitar player and singer and now has added the Alto-Saxophone to his accomplishments and Mr Cutting has recently acquired a Saxophone and has started lessons.

Sandwiched between the speeches there were performances by Mokgweetsi Kabomo, Michael Sibanda and David Spande on the Marimbas, a Saxophone solo by Mpupile Mathibe (he joked that the name of the piece was "My father left me when I was six"), and a song and dance from the stands by the assembled students.

All demonstrated with great enthusiasm that the slogan of this year's music camp, "More Fire in Music"-on all the T-shirts donated by the SCB-was very true.

Hon Rakhudu began by ripping up the speech that had been prepared for him. He confessed it was inappropriate for the occasion.

He blessed the plurality and diversity known to music, recognizing that music is universal. He commented on the unique combination of talent and skill that had been displayed in the various renditions.

He applauded the Botswana Music Camp and all the ways it had been effective over the years in developing music in the country. He observed that music heals, that it helps to keep one in balance, that music puts you at rest.

He reminded everyone that the Government does support music and is helping to fund various activities.

He recognised the role of the new Department of Art and Culture in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC, turning it into a word) in developing music in the country. He bemoaned that musicians tended to be recognised more after they died than while they were living.

He hoped to see music infused throughout the school curriculum.

On being presented with a sky-blue T-shirt by the music camp the Assistant Minister held it over his shirt and tie like a bib. David Slater of the BMC gave the vote of thanks.

Source:mmegi.bw/